[Yahoo! Sports] Branch traded to Seahawks for draft pick (AP)

The New England Patriots ended the holdout of receiver Deion Branch on Monday by trading him to the Seattle Seahawks for a high draft pick. Patriots coach Bill Belichick would not reveal whether the pick was a first-rounder, but said there was "no question" Branch was a big contributor to the team. "It's been a long process," Belichick said.

Even sore ribs couldn't contain Matt Hasselbeck's excitement over having former New England Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch to throw to as his newest Seahawks receiver. Branch's arrival had Hasselbeck laughing Monday through ribs that hurt enough from the battering by the Detroit Lions a day earlier, he held them while jogging through a short conditioning session.